The Shape of Song

The diagrams in The Shape of Song display musical form as a sequence of translucent arches. Each arch connects two repeated, identical passages of a composition. By using repeated passages as signposts, the diagram illustrates the deep structure of the composition.

For example, the picture above was built from the first line of a very simple piece: Mary Had a Little Lamb. Each arch connects two identical passages. To clarify the connection between the visualization and the song, in this diagram the score is displayed beneath the arches.
More complex compositions create more intricate diagrams.